Majid Sarmadi

I don’t make textiles, I make them better and safer for people and the environment

Professor Majid Sarmadi received his PhD from Virginia Tech in 1986 in Textile Science. As Rothermel Bascom Professor of the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he directs the Textile Science specialization graduate degree in the School of Human Ecology’s Design Studies program as well as graduate students in the Materials Science graduate program. He is also a faculty member for the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University. His research focus includes: chemical properties and structures of textile fibers, plasma modifications of materials, textile flammability, wettability, dyeing and finishing. His teaching and research incorporate topics related to sustainability, and has received many awards. He is the author and co-author of more than 70 scientific papers and holds four patents in the area of plasma processing of polymeric materials and plasma technology. He has served as consultant for textile and related industries, state procurement offices, and judicial system on issues such as wettability, dyeability, flammability, and minimum specifications for carpet and other textile materials. Professor Sarmadi has served as a consultant to the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), which serves more than 220,000 students with a building budget of 5.7 billion dollars. The carpet specification that Professor Sarmadi wrote for LACCD is one of his most important contributions to the textile industry and the world as a whole. Professional magazines such as College Planning & Management and some newspapers have called his specifications “Best Practices.” Sarmadi’s Sustainable Carpet Project saved more than 40 million dollars for the State of California on one contract alone. The project has received 16 different awards including recognition from the Governor of California and the Mayor of Los Angeles.

Sustainable Carpet Selection and Care

Selecting the right carpet for your home should be a rewarding experience. The decision one makes to allocate a substantial amount of money to purchasing carpeting should not haunt one by having a carpet that does not meet the need. With its variety of styles, colors, and textures, carpet can be the right choice for just about any residence. The information found on this website will help guide you through the carpet selection process, as well as installation and proper methods for carpet maintenance.

Sarmadi’s research focus includes: chemical properties and structures of textile fibers, plasma modifications of materials, textile flammability, wettability, dyeing and finishing. His teaching and research incorporate topics related to sustainability including recycling and purification of textile waste water. He has received many awards.

Majid Sarmadi*, etl. “High Resolution Scanning Digitization of World Historic Textiles” International Union of Material Research Society and The Material Research Society of Japan, Forum on Advanced Materials Science and Technology for Cultural Assets, Kyoto Japan, August 2017 Invited (Abstract)

Majid Sarmadi*, etl. “High Resolution Scanning Digitization of World Historic Textiles” International Union of Material Research Society and The Material Research Society of Japan, Forum on Advanced Materials Science and Technology for Cultural Assets, Kyoto Japan, August 2017 Invited

Majid Sarmadi*, “Global Environmental Sustainability; What Can I do to Help” In the Global Hot Spots series. Sept. 2010, Invited (it is also broad casted a few times a year from WI Public TV, 2010-present)

*Sarmadi, A. and Kwon, Y. “Surface Modification of Fabrics by Plasma Treatment” the Fiber Society and European Association for Composite Materials and Institute Textile de France, Bordeaux France, April 1992

Faculty Professional Excellence Award, School of Human Ecology, WU-Madison, 1997

Certificate of Award for Second place paper, “Evaluation of Aftertreatments for Reusing Reactive Dyes”, Intersectional Technical Paper Competition, International Technical Conference, AATCC, Atlanta, GA, October 1995

Selected by QUINTESSENCE “as an example of excellence in the entire field of environmental contamination and toxicology” Kwon, Y. and Sarmadi, A. “Wettability of Nonwoven Fabrics: Effect of Laundering on Water Absorption.” Clothing & Textiles Research Journal, Vol. 13, pp. 17-29, 1995

Certificate of Award for Excellence in Outreach, School of Family Resources and Consumer Sciences University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1990

Certificate of Award for third place paper, “Aging and Removal of Stains on Cotton and Wool,” Intersectional Technical Paper Competition, International Technical Conference, AATCC, Charlotte, NC, October 1987